Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 13, 2026
06:51
A Patient-Derived Xenograft Model for Venous Malformation
Published on: June 15, 2020
5.7K
Hepatic venous malformations versus "hemangiomas": a clinical, radiologic, and pathologic analysis
Mohammad A Amarneh1, Mason C Vaillancourt2, Jonathan Davick2
1Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Acta Radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987)
|January 6, 2026
Summary
Hepatic venous malformations (VMs) in adults are often misdiagnosed as hemangiomas. Accurate classification is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment of these vascular anomalies.
Area of Science:
- Vascular anomalies
- Hepatology
- Radiology
Background:
- Hepatic venous malformations (VMs) are adult-onset vascular anomalies.
- They are frequently mislabeled as hepatic hemangiomas, despite ISSVA classification distinguishing them from vascular tumors.
- This misclassification can impede accurate diagnosis and treatment, such as sclerotherapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of adult hepatic VMs.
- To assess the accuracy of existing diagnoses for these lesions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of adult patients with pathology-proven hepatic VMs at a tertiary referral center (2000-2021).
- Collected and analyzed data on clinical, imaging, pathological, and treatment methods.
- Re-evaluation of imaging and histopathology for all confirmed lesions.
Main Results:
- 24 adult patients (mean age 53.5 years) included.
- 83.3% initially diagnosed as hemangioma via imaging; 16.7% initially suspected as metastases.
- All lesions confirmed as VMs upon review; symptomatic VMs were larger (mean 9.3 cm vs 4.42 cm).
Conclusions:
- Hepatic VMs are commonly misdiagnosed as hemangiomas in adults.
- Accurate classification is vital for clinical understanding and treatment.
- Standardized terminology aligns with current vascular anomaly standards.
